El Aposento Alto

The Long Road Toward Justice and Beloved Community: A Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Guides: Rev. Dr. Safiyah Fosua, Rev. Dr. Kwasi Kena, Diana Cason, and Johnny Sears

Registrar: Stephanie Pinson at [email protected] or 615-340-7233

Dates: Monday, February 23 to Saturday, February 28, 2026

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

—James Baldwin

Join The Academy for Spiritual Formation on a sacred journey through Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma — a six-day pilgrimage that brings you face-to-face with the people, places, and stories that shaped the Civil Rights Movement.

In his book, Jesus and the Disinherited, Howard Thurman asks, “Why is it that Christianity seems impotent to deal radically – and therefore effectively – with the issues of discrimination and injustice on the basis of race, religion and national origin?” Indeed, colonialism and white supremacy are threaded through the history and fabric of American society and its institutions, including the Christian church. Those who seek to follow Jesus have a role to play in building a more just and loving future. But first, we must confront and embrace our full history and learn to tell the truth about our present. This is the work of discipleship and spiritual formation.

To that end, The Academy for Spiritual Formation invites you to join us February 23 – 28, 2026, for a six-day, five-night pilgrimage to places that hold sacred stories of Black resilience, survival, and tenacious hope modeled throughout the long and ongoing struggle for freedom, civil rights, and justice in the United States. By bringing us into proximity with our real history, this experience will provide a new and deeper understanding that cannot be found in books and documentaries.

ITINERARY

We will visit sites in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma and have conversations with local guides, historians, and scholars. Each day will be rooted in times of communal prayer, individual contemplation, and facilitated small group reflection to help us process and integrate our experiences.

Click here or see the link below for an outline of our journey and intended sites.

WHY PILGRIMAGE?

Pilgrimage is an ancient tradition of spiritual practice; unlike a tour, this journey will pay particular attention to pace, practice, and purpose. As pilgrims, we leave the familiar comforts of home to seek transformation of the inner landscape of our souls.

This pilgrimage is not just a history lesson—it’s a living encounter with the people, places, and stories that still call us to the work of justice and courageous discipleship. By journeying these roads, we ground ourselves in the wisdom of those who came before us and recommit to shaping a more just and beloved community today.

PREPARATION

Participants will also receive guided preparation for the experience through reading assignments and live online sessions prior to the pilgrimage, including an online session with Dr. Luther Smith who will help us ground ourselves in the theology and witness of Howard Thurman.

Space is limited. The application deadline is December 5, 2025.

COSTS

CHOOSE YOUR RATE

We offer a sliding scale to make the pilgrimage accessible for any who want to attend. You are invited to pay at the highest level your circumstances allow, enabling us to continue offering these programs and provide scholarships for those who need them.

Room Type	Double Occupancy	Single Occupancy
Early Bird (by Oct 20)	$1,500	$1,900
Standard	$1,800 / $2,000 / $2,200	$2,200 / $2,400 / $2,600

Costs Include:

5 nights – Hotel Accommodations

Breakfasts each morning

2 Group lunches

3 Group dinners

Coach transportation throughout, fees for museums, local historians and speakers, tips for driver, and retreat materials.

Note: The fees DO NOT include personal costs to and from Birmingham, books/materials for required reading and pre-study, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and any optional expenses incurred.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Partial scholarships of up to $500 available based on need (in addition to any early bird discount). Link to scholarship application will be provided after being approved for the pilgrimage.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Application fee when applying (not included in pilgrimage fees and non-refundable): $25.00

$100 non-refundable deposit is due within 10 days after your application has been approved to confirm and reserve your spot.

$900 interim payment is due by November 1, 2025. If applying or approved after November 1, $1,000 (inclusive of $100 non-refundable deposit) is due within 10 days after your application has been approved.